Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

I'm sooooo excited! 2 weeks since completing 15 days of radiotherapy I've been discharged and told I'm cancer free. I will need to go for a mammogram annually and a bone desity scan in 2 years as I have Osteopoenia and need more weight bearing exercise and medication. I already do 10,000+steps a day! I even cycled to radiotherapy each day.

Anyway good luck to everyone at the start or even part way through your journey. I was only diagnosed on August 2nd, lumpectomy on August 29 and now out the other end.

I'm still an emotional wreck at times, but hoping going back to work will help.

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Well done Fezzy xxx you got there in the end!!! Keep drinking lots and continue to moisturiser. Even now, after finishing rads in July, I still get some discoloration under my boob and across my chest where the rad zone ended. But I still drink as much as I can and still moisturiser within an inch of my life and alls good.Reading through recent posts, everything sounds so familiar, which is good, as these worries and twinges are common for all of us.This is the best place to come for support from others who have been through the same.I'm also 4 weeks in to my HOPE course. If your MacMillan centre offer this, go for it. I'm with a lovely group and although we have had different diagnosis and treatment plans, we all have the same worries and concerns so its good to share.Take care all, keep going, there is light at the end of the tunnel xxxxxx🎀❣🎀❣🎀

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

After having my radiotherapy delayed from October I hope to be finally starting mine next week.So well done ladies that have finished, good luck to those still having it and i shall no doubt join the December thread

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Congratulations FezzyBet you are relieved! No more Rads. Make sure you look after yourself As I was told too that side effects could continue after Rads completion.I am on day 13/20. Roll on next week the final week . I am tired having to make the same journey each day . There are no bells to ring at my Hospital - my thoughts go out to everybody going through Rads or yet to start

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Thank you for your good wishes xx Oh that is great news having the all clear, know what you mean it just brings back memories but going forward now it is a good memory of everything being absolutely fine

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Congratulations on finishing yoru rads. As your team have advised you the next couple of weeks you will need to keep up your regime as you will still be feeling the effects, and I found especially making sure that I kept up my fluid intake.

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

hi ladies hope you are all doing ok. Today I rang the bell, 20 sessions completed, my lovely radiotherapy team cheering me on they have been brilliant. Been told that I still have to moisturize and watch my skin but it's been fine up to yet, just a tender nipple and odd stabbing pains which I have been told are normal, hopefully I won't have any problems but time will tell. Good luck to all having treatment this month it does seem never-ending but it's surprising how quick it goes, Fezzy x

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Hi, I have been prescribed some Mepiplex pads to put under breast but has anyone used any gels or creams on the blistered areas? Or should I just keep it dry? I will ask the radiotherapy nurse but just wondered what your experiences were. Thanks

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

I though I would just pop on and say I know exactly how you feel with the radiotherapy burns. I had some nasty burns this time last year when I was going through treatment. I was given the instrasite gel too and it really did work wonders. It is something to do with keeping the skin moist while it heals and it helped me no end. Keep your chin up, mine took about three weeks to skin over (mine were all under my boob and under my arm). Take painkillers regularly too, I tried to be brave and eventually realised I was doing myself no favours and just took them. The skin is very fragile when it is healing too so gentle is the name of the game. Take care X

Hi Ladybowler,

Glad to see you are doing well and recovering from your op. I have just been for my 1st year mammogram, and got the all clear - hurrah! Got myself in a state going, but glad it is all done. X

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Well that is positive and it does sound as if things are improving. Have you got a cotton hanky that you might be able to put between your bra and nipple to ease it. Oh the joys of numb underarms, I remember putting my deoberant on and the only reason I knew I was doing it was because I had it in my hand, I could not feel anything under my arm.

I am so glad to hear that you have an appointment for counselling as well, I really do think it will help and give you the space you need without having to worry about upsetting anyone.

I am doing fine. I have my apt on Wednesday which will be 7 weeks post my hysterectomy, cant believe how the time has flown. I am hoping that I will be able sort out a date for me to go back to work for at least a week before xmas. Getting stir crazy now and need to get back to normality, albeit that I will only be working a few hours a day for about 6 weeks. I must admit I feel so much better having had the op, which is what a lot of ladies have told me

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Hi HelenaThey have given me more dressings and said that the gel is the best thing to use to help healing. The blisters underneath have improved although a new one has appeared today, my nipple has begun to get sore and my under arm is raw. On the plus side I can’t feel how sore my under arm is because I haven’t got the feeling back since lymph clearance! They have said that it should have healed in the next two weeks so I am focusing on that.Also I have got an appointment booked with the counselling team which I really think I need as I am very up and down.How are you doing? X

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Hi everyone, I had session 13 of 15 yesterday and also a review with the radiotherapy specialist nurse. I had been feeling quite hopeful that my skin was not going to be affected too badly but she warned that the worst is to come. Apparently about 2/3 after finishing the rads will be worst time and she expects blisters etc will appear under boob so she has advised me to get some pads from the GP and also some 1% hydrocortisone cream for itchiness. Best to be forewarned I suppose. She is going to phone me to see how I am getting on in a couple of weeks.

I am also getting some stabbing pains but very short lived at the moment. Nurse has advised that these could happen more for a while and breast will feel very heavy. Paracetamol advised and plenty of rest and fluids of course. I have been getting some dizziness for the last day or two but nurse says this is more likely due to not drinking enough fluid rather than the radiotherapy. They are all very kind but I cannot wait to get to Wednesday so that there are no more long trips to the hospital. I am going there again today though as the breast care nurses run a monthly support group and it sounds quite jolly so I am looking forward to that. I am also being referred for counselling as the whirlwind of appointments and treatment over the last six months has meant that I don't believe that I have really had time to accept what is happening to me yet - nurses have said it is not unusual to feel at your worst mentally/emotionally at the point treatment finishes so we will see.

Re: November 2018 Radiotherapy

Definitely ask them about the polymem, you can also get it prescribed by your GP but the rads team should be able to give you some in the meantime. One side of it has lines on it and I think that is the side that you slightly dampen before applying it to your skin.